WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Labor Appropriations Subcommittee, today issued the following statement on the national jobless rate. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employers added 162,000 jobs in March. The national jobless rate, however, remains unchanged at 9.7 percent.

“The dark days of winter are behind us and just as a new season is taking shape, so too is our economy showing signs of a new season, with the largest increase in jobs in three years. Knowing that employers added jobs last month is a breath of fresh air for an economy that has been stagnant for far too long.

“The fact is that the Recovery Act and other efforts are working. Unfortunately there are still dangers ahead for those still looking for work, so additional efforts to move the country forward are needed.

“First, Congress must overcome the obstructionism that is holding up an extension of unemployment insurance. This critical safety net expires Monday and will leave nearly 38,000 Americans and 1,200 Iowans without benefits they need while they look for work. In addition, we must take immediate action to prevent job losses among our nation’s teachers – to protect the quality of education – and we need to pass job creating legislation. When Congress returns, I intend to move immediately on those efforts.”